Turkey Formalizes Ban On Sites That Criticize Founding Father

Turkey passed a law on Tuesday that allows the government to block websites hosting content that criticizes Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the revered founder of modern Turkey, according to Reporters Without Borders. The move follows a court ordered ban on YouTube in March that was prompted by a crude video posted during an gay-baiting flame war between Greek and Turkish nationalists.

“Legal restrictions now extend to the Internet,” the press freedom organisation said. “Resorting to criminal penalties to punish Internet users is excessive. It shows the authorities want to force website editors to censor themselves. The possible consequences of this law are very disturbing. Will subversive content also be banned from chat forums? How far does the government want go to impose its control on online dissent?”

See also THREAT LEVEL's guide to evading Internet bans. Via Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing. Photo: Kyle Flood